Mally win nine-goal cup thriller – but what an effort from the Comrades!

NWCFA SUNDAY CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER FINAL

FC MALLY 5 (Gallina, B Lundstram, Griffiths, Hughes, N Williams)
CONWY COMRADES 4 (J Jones 2, Pattinson, Stokes)

Record five-time Challenge Cup winners FC Mally are on course for yet another success after edging out a strong Conwy Comrades outfit in a nine-goal thriller on Sunday.

Having several key players missing, the Mally lads took on a near full-strength Conwy side looking for a spot in the semi-finals.

The game started off end-to-end with both teams having chances, then on 16 minutes a route one ball from Mally goalkeeper Liam Jones evaded the two Conwy centre backs to allow Francesco Gallina to smash in the opener.

A few minutes later Conwy were awarded a penalty which Liam Jones saved, but Joe Jones scored from the rebound.

Captain for the day Stevie Jones was causing havoc with his long throws into the Conwy box and on 35 minutes the Mally retook the lead as one of the skipper’s missiles was met by a Benn Lundstram header.

Just before half time a mix up at the back by the Junction men allowed Joe Jones to score his second of the afternoon. Half-time 2-2.

The second half started with Mally pushing forward and on 50 minutes another Stevie Jones throw-in dropped to Liam Griffiths in the box and he smashed the ball home.

The next 10 minutes were back-and-forth with chances going begging, then in the 61st minute another Jones throw was met by a Nick “Smooth” Hughes header to put the lads in pink 4-2 up and in control.

In the 75th minute a low free kick into the box by Conwy’s Lee Stokes was deflected against the Mally bar and the ball then fell onto the head of Ian Pattinson, who nodded in to make it 4-3.

More chances were fluffed before on 83 minutes Stokes found space in the box to lamp in the equaliser to make it 4-4 and force extra time – or so we thought……

In the 89th minute another Jones throw fell to Nathan Williams in the box, he turned and let rip with a great right footed strike which nestled into the bottom corner of the net to send the fans wild and get the win for Mally.

A great advert for Sunday league football played by two very good teams but this time the Mally boys came out on top.

FC MALLY – CHALLENGE CUP FINAL WINS

2021-22: FC Mally 4 Y Clwb 1
2018-19: FC Mally 5 FC Prestatyn 0
2017-18: FC Mally 5 Bar Bow 2
2014-15: FC Mally 5 Penbont Celts 0
2013-14: FC Mally 1 Bryngwran Bulls 0

• In 2016-17 a team called FC Crozzy, involving several past FC Mally management and players, also won the cup, beating FC Pengwern 4-3 in the final. The name FC Mally was reintroduced in 2017-18.